Zim GBC News | Harare Correspondent
HARARE – The board of Zimpapers has suspended Group Chief Executive Editor Elias Mambo with immediate effect pending an investigation into his alleged connection to a controversial US$52 million story regarding the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). The suspension, confirmed in a letter dated 26 February, adds a new layer of turbulence to a saga that has already seen a cabinet minister reassigned and a senior reporter suspended.
The letter, signed by Board Chairperson Doreen Sibanda, informed Mambo that he would be stood down starting 1 March while the investigations are conducted. His suspension follows the dramatic fallout from a story published by The Independent alleging that US$52 million in radio licensing revenue at ZBC could not be accounted for.
The Genesis of the Scandal
The saga began on 2 February when former Information Minister Jenfan Muswere wrote a five-page letter terminating Helliate Rushwaya as chairperson of the ZBC board, citing allegations of corporate misgovernance. Shortly after, The Independent published its bombshell report regarding the missing millions.
The publication triggered immediate and forceful pushback from the government. The Information Ministry strongly disputed the US$52 million claim, questioning its factual basis. In the rapid political developments that followed, Muswere was reassigned to a different portfolio by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Simultaneously, the dismissals of Rushwaya and fellow board member Craig Matambo were nullified and referred to the Attorney General’s Office for legal review.
In a dramatic turn of events, The Independent’s editor, Faith Zaba, later acknowledged that the story had been published without adequate verification. Issuing a written apology to Rushwaya and the Ministry, Zaba retracted the article from all platforms. The publication subsequently suspended senior reporter Freeman Makopa pending an internal investigation into the origins of the report.
Focus Turns to Mambo
Attention has now shifted to Mambo, whose professional trajectory has been closely linked to political circles. Allegations have circulated that he may have been connected to the flow of information that informed the disputed story, though he has not publicly commented on the claims, and no official findings have linked him directly to the article.
Sources indicate that before joining Zimpapers, Mambo worked at The Independent and later founded an online publication.
He was subsequently appointed Personal Assistant to Muswere at the ICT Ministry and moved with him when Muswere became Information Minister. His rapid ascent within State-linked media structures was viewed by observers as a reflection of that relationship.
Further unconfirmed allegations suggest that Mambo may have attempted to discourage the Zimpapers stable from publishing Faith Zaba’s apology letter. These claims form part of the ongoing investigation.
Broader Questions of Governance
The Information Ministry serves as the parent ministry for both Zimpapers and ZBC, placing the unfolding matter within a closely linked governance framework.
The suspension of a senior editorial executive at the country’s largest media house signals the seriousness of the institutional fallout.
As investigations continue, no conclusive findings have been made public regarding Mambo’s alleged role. The case raises significant questions about editorial accountability, political influence, and governance oversight within Zimbabwe’s State-linked media institutions.
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